Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could be set to resume their long-standing rivalry in the coming months if the Saudi Pro League officials make good their move to have the World champion join the Saudi Pro League on loan. Inter Miami failed to reach the playoffs meaning that Messi plays no football after October 21st which will be the day Inter Miami play their last game of the season. They will then resume play at the start of the new campaign at the end of February. Messi was hotly pursued by the Saudi Pro League during the summer transfer window but opted to move to the USA's MLS. While making the move, he insisted that money was not his primary motivation after rejecting a huge money move to play for Al Hilal. 

Related Article: Messi's return to Barcelona on loan is a bad idea!

A short return to Barcelona has already been rumored for Messi although the Inter Miami coach has played down the possibility of the world superstar rejoining the Catalonia giants. However, Saudi Arabia's chances of signing Lionel Messi are increasingly unlikely as a deal could only be signed in January when the transfer window opens and the MLS preseason will begin in February. This means that if Saudi are able to pull any loan deal, it will only last for a matter of weeks. The Saudis could try and utilize an 'emergency' loan option to sign Messi outside of their official window, but MLS rules are clear that they will not sanction deals under these conditions. 

The only possible solution is for Messi to train in the Kingdom while conducting ambassadorial duties during the MLS off-season. Despite the interest from Saudi Arabia for the 2022 FIFA World Cup superstar, there still exists a degree of bad blood after Messi opted to join Inter Miami when Saudi officials had arranged a private jet to fly him to Al-Hilal. This means that there exists some hope of football's greatest individual rivalry being reignited this season. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo spent a decade battling it out with Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively as they dominated world football. The duo won the Ballon d'Or every year except one between 2008 and 2021. The only Ballon d'Or that Messi or Ronaldo didn't win during their rivalry was when Luka Modric won the 2018 individual prize owing to his key role in helping Croatia finish as runners-up in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. As Lionel Messi plays for Inter Miami, his nemesis Ronaldo currently plies his trade at Al Nassr.

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